JP2825996B2 - Terminal device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device and, more particularly, to a terminal device having a small and space-saving input section for easily inputting characters.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of directly inputting characters by an operator, a key input method and a handwriting input method using a touch panel are typical. As shown in FIG. 16, a key input method is often used.

[0003]

However, in the input method using keys, a large number of keys 61 are required for inputting character codes.
Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the size of a handy terminal device or the like because the input portion occupies a large portion. As a means for solving the problem, the size of each key is reduced to reduce the size.

[0004] If these individual keys are made smaller, the operability of key input is poor and there is a drawback of erroneous input. In addition, there are many unnecessary keys in the work of inputting the quantity and the amount of money, which are often performed in the handy terminal device.

In a handwriting input method using a touch panel,
There is a drawback that high-speed input such as key input is not possible, and when used in combination with a key, there is a drawback that the weight of the handy terminal device is increased due to the attachment of the touch panel, and the price is increased. Regarding the input unit, a handy type is required to have a particularly small number of keys in terms of miniaturization, and a desktop type is required to have a small number of keys in terms of operability of key input.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and to assign a character handwriting input area to a key portion that is not used in character input by using a sheet keyboard having function keys for enabling character input. It is another object of the present invention to provide a terminal device provided with a key input unit that uses the handwriting input area as a normal key when characters are not input.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a key input unit to which numeric keys and function keys other than characters are assigned. Reference numeral 2 denotes an information processing unit. That execute the information processing of 3
Is a display unit, which displays information results processed by the information processing unit 2, 4 is a character input function key, which enables character input by handwriting using keys in the key input unit 1, Reference numeral 5 denotes a handwriting input area.
In the character input mode, a certain range key area in which the numeric keys and function keys not used in the character input are converted for character input, and 6 is a recognition processing unit. The character recognition is performed on the basis of the input information of the character drawn in (1), and the character code of the recognized character is output.

[0008]

When the character input function key 4 is pressed, a character input mode is set, and each key in the handwriting input area 5 which has been a numeric keypad or a function key is converted into a character input area. When the operator traces a character image on the handwriting input area 5 with a finger or the like, the input information is sent from each key in the handwriting input area 5 to the recognition processing unit 6, and the recognition processing unit 6 performs character recognition.
The recognized character code is sent to the display unit 3 via the information processing unit 2, and the character input from the handwriting input area 5, that is, the recognized character is displayed on the display unit 3.

Since a large number of characters are input from the handwriting input area 5, the number of keys in the key input unit 1 can be reduced, and thus the size of the keys themselves can be reduced without reducing the size of the keys themselves. Space can be reduced. In addition, since keys other than characters are assigned as usual, operability of the keys is maintained as before.

[0010]

FIG. 2 is an external front view of one embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numerals 1, 3 to 5 correspond to those in FIG. 1, and 7 denotes a main body. An input / output terminal (not shown) is provided on a side surface portion of the main body 7, and other devices, for example, a printing device such as a journal printer, a file device such as a floppy or a memory card, an RS232
A communication device or the like is connected via C or a modem.

FIG. 3 shows a key arrangement diagram of an embodiment of the key input section. The key is a number often used in routine work,
In addition to the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division symbols, etc., function keys such as function keys F1 to F7 for defining the program processing and keys for cursor movement are provided. Character keys such as alphanumeric, hiragana and katakana are provided. Not been.

These character inputs are made by handwriting by using the character input function keys 4. That is, when the character input function key 4 is depressed, a character input mode is set, and the F1 to F4 function keys, the addition / subtraction / multiplication / division key, and the numeral 000 including the numeral 000 are not used in character input. To 9 and the dot keys form the handwriting input area 5. The input characters are written in the handwriting input area 5 by handwriting or the like. At this time, a technique for preventing keys other than the handwriting input area 5 from being inadvertently pressed is provided as described below.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a seat keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. Key input section 1 is a sheet
A keyboard is used, and a partitioning projection 8 is provided on the surface of the sheet keyboard which is a boundary of the handwriting input area 5. The partitioning projections 8 can prevent inadvertent pressing of keys other than the handwriting input area 5 in the character input mode.

In the character input mode, the handwriting input area 5
The surface of the sheet keyboard may be formed slightly lower than the surface of the other key area to provide a step so as to prevent inadvertent pressing of keys other than the handwriting input area 5 in the character input mode. The partitioning means for preventing erroneous input provided at the boundary between the handwriting input area (5) of the key input section (1) and another input area may have a projection (8).

Further, the partitioning means for preventing erroneous input provided at the boundary between the handwriting input area (5) of the key input section (1) and another input area is provided so that the handwriting input area (5) is located at another input area. It may be formed lower than that, and a step may be provided at the boundary between the handwriting input area (5) and another input area.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a key portion of the sheet keyboard. 2 via insulating spacer 9
The insulating sheets 10 and 11 are provided to face each other, and the electrodes 12 are provided at positions facing the sheets 10 and 11 respectively. When the sheet 10 is pressed with a finger or the like, the two electrodes come into contact with each other, and a current flows through the contact to obtain input information.

FIG. 6 shows a contact configuration diagram of an embodiment of a key, and black circles represent contacts. The one in FIG.
One key has four contacts, and is used for all keys forming the handwriting input area 5 in the input mode. In the case of FIG. 1B, one contact is provided for one key. Have
Used for keys other than the keys forming the handwriting input area 5.

A plurality of keys (FIG. 6)
(A), the resolution of character information (image data) in the character input mode is improved, and the accuracy of character recognition described later is improved. Get higher. However, in a normal key input, even if any of the contacts of each key is turned on or a plurality of keys are turned on at the same time, information of the corresponding code assigned to the key is output as described later.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 21 denotes a sheet / keyboard input unit, 22 denotes a sheet / keyboard, 23 denotes an input coordinate detecting unit, 24 denotes an input key / character recognizing unit, Reference numeral 25 denotes a main body processing unit, 26 denotes a display device, 27 denotes an input / output terminal, 28 denotes a printing device, 29 denotes a file device, and 30 denotes a communication device.

The sheet / keyboard input unit 21 is a sheet / keyboard input unit.
It comprises a keyboard 22, an input coordinate detecting unit 23, and an input key / character recognizing unit 24. In the key input mode, a key code of a key input to the sheet keyboard 22 is notified to the main unit processing unit 25, and character input is performed. In the mode, after the handwritten input characters input to the sheet keyboard 22 are recognized, they are converted into the character codes and converted to the main body processing unit 2.
5 is notified.

The sheet keyboard 22 has a function similar to that of the structure described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, and the input coordinate detecting unit 23 has the structure shown in FIG. The X- and Y-coordinates of the information input from the input unit 22 are detected and output as data of X and Y coordinate information. That is, it is as follows.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a sheet keyboard and an input coordinate detecting section. Reference numerals 22 and 23 correspond to those in FIG. Reference numeral 31 denotes an X-coordinate scan circuit, 32 denotes a Y-coordinate scan circuit, 33 denotes an on / off detection circuit, and 34 denotes a battery.

X and Y coordinate scanning circuits 31 and 3
2 is always scanning and the sheet keyboard 2
2 is closed, a current flows through the on / off detection circuit 33 via the contact, and the on / off detection circuit 3
The X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the contact point closed by 3 are detected.

For example, when the hatched key of the sheet keyboard 22 is depressed, the X- and Y-coordinate scanning circuits 31 and 32 close the circuit at the position of the coordinates (X ₃ , Y ₁ ) and detect ON / OFF. The circuit 33 detects the ON state,
The coordinate information (X ₃ , Y ₁ ) is output to the input key / character recognition unit 24. If a plurality of keys on the sheet keyboard 22 are pressed, the on / off detection circuit 33
Outputs a plurality of pieces of coordinate information.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of an input key / character recognizing unit, and reference numeral 24 corresponds to that of FIG. Reference numeral 35 denotes a processor, 36 denotes a coordinate data input unit,
37 is a ROM, 38 is a RAM, 39 is a character pattern dictionary, 40 is a key code table, and 41 is a code output unit.

The processor 35 converts a key input input to the sheet keyboard 22 in the key input mode into its key code, and recognizes a handwritten character input in the sheet keyboard 22 in the character input mode. Performs processing such as conversion to character codes.

The coordinate data input section 36 is a buffer for temporarily storing the data of the X and Y coordinate information input from the input coordinate detecting section 23 described above. The ROM 37 is a memory in which a program for executing each process such as the key code conversion, character recognition, and character code conversion is stored.

The RAM 38 is a memory for storing buffer data, control flags, and the like described later with reference to FIG. The character pattern dictionary 39 stores a dot pattern for each character type as a dictionary, and is compared with a dot pattern for handwritten characters input from the sheet keyboard 22 in the character input mode.
For example, as for the katakana “O”, a black circle is set to “1” as shown in FIG. 10, and the dot pattern of the black circle is stored in the character pattern dictionary 39 as a dictionary.

The key code table 40 is a table for converting the X and Y coordinate information of the key input input from the sheet keyboard 22 in the key input mode into the key code assigned to the input key. It is. FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the key code table, which corresponds to the key input unit 1 shown in FIG. 3 described above.

As is apparent from the key code table shown in FIG. 11, for example, when the key "4" of the numeric keypad is pressed in the key input mode and any one of the four contacts is turned on, the corresponding input is performed. It is understood that this is converted to a key, that is, a key code assigned to the numeral "4".

In the key code table of FIG. 11, blank places indicate places where there is no contact. The code output unit 41 is used for the sheet keyboard 22 in the key input mode.
This buffer temporarily stores the key code of the key input entered from the keyboard and the character code of the recognized character that is handwritten and input from the sheet keyboard 22 in the character input mode.

FIG. 12 shows the configuration of an embodiment on ROM / RAM. Reference numerals 37 and 38 correspond to those in FIG. Reference numeral 42 denotes a # 1 key input buffer, 43 denotes a # 2 key input buffer, 44 denotes a key output buffer, 45 denotes a character pattern development buffer, and 46 denotes an input mode flag area.

FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show a flowchart of the input key / character recognizing unit 24 constituting one figure together. The arrangement relationship in the figure is as follows.
That is, the upper side of FIG. 14 is connected to the lower side of FIG.
3 are connected to the circuit shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of FIG. 9 will be described with reference to the ROM / RAM of FIG.
A description will be given with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14 using the configuration of the above embodiment. When the power is turned on,
As an initial stage, the processor 35 sets the key input unit 1 to the key input mode by setting, for example, “0” in the input mode flag area 46, and sets at least the # 1 key input buffer 42, the # 2 key input buffer 43, The key output buffer 44 and the character pattern development buffer 45 are initialized (step 1).

Then, the processor 35 monitors whether or not the data of the X and Y coordinate information has been input from the sheet keyboard 22, that is, the input coordinate detecting section 23 to the coordinate data input section 36 (step 2). ). The input monitoring is continued until data is input to the coordinate data input unit 36 (steps 3 and 2).

When data is input to the coordinate data input section 36 (step 3), the processor 35 outputs the data to #.
The data is stored in the 1 key input buffer 42 (step 4), and it is determined whether the data is the same as the data stored in the # 2 key input buffer 43 (step 5). If it is determined that they are the same, the # 1 key input buffer 42
Is repeatedly waited until the next new data is stored (steps 2 to 5). That is, it is in a state of waiting until a key of the key input unit 1 is pressed and the key is released.

When the data stored in the # 1 key input buffer 42 is different from the data stored in the # 2 key input buffer 43 (step 5), especially when the data is stored in the # 2 key input buffer 43. When the data is all "0" (step 6), that is, immediately after initialization, the data stored in the # 1 key input buffer 42 is moved to the # 2 key input buffer 43 (step 1).
7) Return to step 2. When all the data stored in the # 2 key input buffer 43 is not "0" (step 6), the processor 35 sets the # 2 key input buffer 4
It is determined whether or not the data stored in 3 is data of coordinates other than the handwriting input area 5 of the key input unit 1 (step 7). That is, it is determined whether the key pressed by the key input unit 1 is other than the handwriting input area 5, and the coordinate data other than the handwriting input area 5, that is, the data originally input by the key other than the handwriting input area 5 is used. If there is (step 7), the processor 35 refers to the key code table 40 and obtains a key code corresponding to the data (step 10). When reading this key code, if a plurality of data are stored in the # 2 key input buffer 43, the processor 35 selects the most frequent code or the first code as the key code.

It is checked whether the key code obtained in step 10 is the key code assigned to the character input function key 4 of the key input section 1 (step 11). When the key code is different, whether or not the character input mode is already set is checked by the flag set in the input mode flag area 46 (step 1).
3) If not already in the character input mode, the key code data obtained in step 10 is stored in the key output buffer 44 (step 18). Then, after transferring to the code output unit 41, the key code is transferred to the main body processing unit 25 (step 16). Thereafter, the data stored in the # 1 key input buffer 42 is transferred to the # 2 key input buffer 43 (step 17), and the process returns to step 2.

In step 11, when the key code obtained in step 10 is the same as the key code assigned to the character input function key 4 of the key input section 1,
That is, when the character input function key 4 is pressed, the processor 35 sets the flag “1” in the input mode flag area 46.
To set the character input mode (step 12). #
The data stored in the 1 key input buffer 42 is # 2
The process moves to the key input buffer 43 (step 17), and returns to step 2.

In step 7, the data stored in the # 2 key input buffer 43 is the data of the coordinates in the handwriting input area 5 of the key input unit 1, and at this time, the flag "0" is set in the input mode flag area 46. Is in the key input mode (step 8), the above-described step 1
Move to 0. That is, in the key input mode, for example, when a numeric key in the handwriting input area 5 is pressed, the key code assigned to the numeric key is obtained in step 10.

On the other hand, when the mode is not the key input mode in step 8, that is, in the character input mode, the data stored in the # 2 key input buffer 43 is overlaid on the character pattern development buffer 45 (step 9). Then, the process returns to step 2 via step 17. That is, the key input unit 1
This means that character input is performed using the handwriting input area 5 of, and information is sequentially ORed while data is superimposed on the character pattern development buffer 45.

In step 14, step 10
Is not the key code assigned to the character input function key 4 (step 11), but the key code assigned to the "input" of the function key of the key input unit 1 in the character input mode (step 13). In other words, when the character code is assigned to the “input” of the function key to be pressed when the character is completely input by handwriting from the handwriting input area 5 in the character input mode and the character is determined by this, the processor 35 The pattern in the character pattern expansion buffer 45 is compared with the character pattern dictionary 39, and the most likely character code is determined.
9 (step 15).

The character code of the recognition character thus obtained is transferred to the code output unit 41, and the character code is transferred to the main processing unit 25 (step 16). Thereafter, the process returns to step 2 via step 17. In step 14, the key code obtained in step 10 is not the key code assigned to the character input function key 4 (step 11), but the function key of the key input unit 1 in the character input mode (step 13). If the key code is not assigned to "", for example, "Convert"
, The data of the key code is stored in the key output buffer 44.

The input key / character recognizing section 24 performs a process of obtaining a key code or a character code based on the coordinate information obtained from the sheet keyboard 22 as described above. When the character input to 5 is small, when the character is inclined, etc., preprocessing for correction is performed to improve the recognition rate.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of character conversion. Reference numeral 51 denotes an input buffer, 52 denotes a display buffer, and 53 denotes a display screen. The data of the coordinate information of the handwritten characters input from the sheet keyboard 22 is
It is converted into a character code through the above processing, and
5 is input. For example, when each character code of “Kanji” is input, these character codes are input to the main body processing unit 25.
Are sequentially stored in an input buffer 51 provided in the display device, and also stored in a display buffer 52, and are displayed on a display screen 53 of the display device 26.

When the key code of “conversion” is input to the main body processing section 25, the main body processing section 25 performs a search using a dictionary containing kanji and Japanese sentences corresponding to the character strings in the input buffer 51. The first candidate is stored in the display buffer 52 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 15, and displayed on the display screen 53 in Chinese characters. Main body processing unit 2
Every time the “conversion” key code is input to 5, the second and third candidates are sequentially displayed on the display screen 53.

When a key code of "no conversion" is input, the display is fixed as shown on the display screen 53 as it is. When a code other than the above is input to the main body processing unit 25, the processing is performed as new input data.

As described above, the operation of the main body processing section 25 is the same as that of the conventional one. Although the above description has been made with reference to the handy terminal device, the present invention is also applied to a desktop terminal device. In claim 1, there is a handwriting input area in which a predetermined range of keys of a key input section is converted for character input. A function key such as an "input key" can be separately arranged on the side surface or the rear surface of the apparatus, and the entire key input can be converted into a handwriting input. This does not necessarily limit the range of the character input area.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, (1) a key input unit which can be operated by anyone with small size and space saving and can be input without erroneous input is possible, and the handy terminal device can be downsized. . Therefore, the range of use in the information collection field and the like can be expanded. (2) Input codes used in routine work can be assigned to keys as in the past, and high operation is possible. (3) For both handy terminal devices and desktop terminal devices,
There is no need to search for the key from many keys when inputting characters, and input can be performed easily. (4) A plurality of contacts are provided on a key that is a handwriting input area
Character information in the character input mode.
(Image data) resolution is improved,
The degree increases.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external front view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a key layout diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a surface shape diagram of an embodiment of the seat keyboard of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the seat keyboard.

FIG. 6 is a contact configuration diagram of an embodiment of a key.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a sheet keyboard and an input coordinate detection unit.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of an input key / character recognition unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a character pattern dictionary.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a key code table.

FIG. 12 shows a configuration of an embodiment on a ROM / RAM.

FIG. 13 is a part of a flowchart of an input key / character recognition unit.

FIG. 14 is a part of a flowchart forming a single figure together with FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of character conversion.

FIG. 16 is an external view of a conventional handy terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key input part 2 Information processing part 3 Display part 4 Character input function key 5 Handwriting input area 6 Recognition processing part 8 Projection 21 Sheet / keyboard input part 22 Sheet / keyboard 23 Input coordinate detection part 24 Input key / character recognition part 25 Main unit processing unit 26 Display device 31 Scan circuit 32 Scan circuit 33 On / off detection circuit 35 Processor 36 Coordinate data input unit 37 ROM 38 RAM 39 Character pattern dictionary 40 Key code table 41 Code output unit 42 # 1 key input buffer 43 # 2 key input buffer 44 key output buffer 45 character pattern expansion buffer 46 input mode / flag area

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] An information input is performed by a key input of a key input section (1).
In the terminal apparatus performed by the display unit to display information processing unit for performing information processing based on the input information input from the key input unit (1) and (2), the information processed by the information processing unit (2) (3) Bei example and the key input unit (1) includes a character input function key (4),
Keys in a predetermined range among the keys of the key input unit (1)
And keys within the defined range.
Handwriting input area with multiple contact points each
(5), when the character input mode is set by the character input function key (4) , the key within the predetermined range
Is converted to a handwritten character input, and the information processing unit (2) includes a recognition processing unit (6) that performs character recognition based on input information input from the handwritten input area (5). Terminal device. 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a sheet keyboard is used for the key input section. 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein a partitioning means for preventing erroneous input is provided at a boundary between the handwriting input area (5) of the key input section (1) and another input area. Terminal device. 4. The information processing section (2) includes a plurality of input prevention processing sections from the same key, and prevents input of a plurality of key codes by pressing the same key twice. 1 terminal device. 5. A handwriting input area (5) for a recognition processing unit (6).
2. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: an input end detection processing unit that detects an end of tracing of a character to be input to the input device, wherein character input information of the input character is established at the end of tracing of the character. 6. A recognition processing unit (6) for detecting an ON state of a contact provided on a key input unit (1) by X and Y coordinates, and an input coordinate detection unit (23). ) Character input based on the X and Y coordinate information detected in step (1), and a character recognition unit (24) for obtaining a character of the recognized character, and a handwritten character input from a handwriting input area (5). 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein character recognition is performed based on the X, Y coordinate information of the terminal. 7. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the recognition processing unit includes a character pattern dictionary storing character codes corresponding to the characters, and outputs the character codes. . 8. The information processing section (2) includes a key code table (40) for converting the coordinates of the key input section (1) into a key code, based on the coordinate information of the key input section (1). 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a key code of a pressed key is obtained. 9. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein one of the terminal devices has an input / output terminal and is connected to an external input / output device. 10. The key input unit (1) according to claim 1,
A terminal device, further comprising a conversion key, wherein the conversion key converts a handwritten character input to the handwriting input area (5) into a sentence converted into a kanji character.